Changes in Perceived Colors of Cut Roses under Florist Shop Lighting

Abstract

Color perception of cut flowers may change depending on the light environment. We investigated how florist shop lighting changed the color perception of six cut rose colors (white, red, orange, yellow, purple, and red-purple) through visual color measurements. Visual color measurements were performed by expert colorists using the Commission International de l’Eclairage (CIE) colorimetry method. 6500 K (control), 3500 K, and 2800 K fluorescent lamps, and 6500 K LED lamps were used for comparison. Color perceptions changed depending on lamps and rose colors. When compared with control 6500 K fluorescent lamps, 2800 K fluorescent lamps induced high color differences (ΔE > 10) in all rose colors except white roses. 3500 K plant-growth lamps greatly altered purple rose color perception (ΔE > 34). 6500 K LED lamps had the lowest ΔE on average among the test lamps. Changes in color perception of red, orange, and yellow roses were influenced more strongly by 6500 K LED lamps than 2800 K lamps, probably due to the narrower spectrum of LED lamps. White lamps most closely replicating natural daylight should be considered as part of a florist shop lighting plan in order to accurately represent the various colors of flowers.